Marshall Howard Crenshaw (born November 11, 1953) is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known for his song "Someday, Someway", a Top 40 hit in 1982.
His music has roots in classic soul music, British Invasion songcraft, Burt Bacharach and Buddy Holly—the latter to whom Crenshaw was often compared in the early days of his career, and whom he portrayed in the 1987 film La Bamba. Crenshaw is also a noted guitarist who uses offbeat chord progressions (almost verging towards jazz) and concise solos. A quote from Trouser Press summed up Marshall Crenshaw’s early career: “Although he was seen as a latter-day Buddy Holly at the outset, he soon proved too talented and original to be anyone but himself.” AllMusic Guide described Crenshaw’s style: “He writes songs that are melodic, hooky and emotionally true, and he sings and plays them with an honesty and force that still finds room for humor without venom.”
Born in Detroit, Michigan, he grew up in the suburb of Berkley. He graduated from Berkley High School in June 1971.
Marshall Crenshaw is the debut studio album by American musician Marshall Crenshaw. It features his breakthrough hit, "Someday, Someway", which reached No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1982, as well as No. 31 on the Cash Box singles chart. The album spent over six months on the Billboard chart, peaking at No. 50, and eventually sold close to 400,000 copies in the United States. Rolling Stone included the album in their list of "The 100 Best Albums of the Eighties", coming in at No. 72.
All songs written by Marshall Crenshaw, except where noted.
A remastered, reissued version on Rhino/Warner Archives features bonus tracks, which include demos and live tracks.
I had to see for myself
I had to show it to you
Among my sweetest of memories
I see this place in more than a few, yeah
Familiar shadows remain
But they are all that?s unchanged
Because this whole street seems haunted now
And the atmosphere is still and strange
We didn't worry about much
We never had a spare dime
This is where home used to be
In a different time
I know it?s hard to believe
So much has turned to dust, yeah, yeah
But this is where home used to be
And it was good to us, more than good to us
This was our place in the world
When life was new and untried
When every wild dream seemed possible
It felt good to be here, it was warm inside, yeah
I have to say, I?m amazed
Even though I learned long ago
That sometimes good things get thrown away
I wish right now that it wasn't so
Those days are good and gone
Around here it?s plain enough, yeah, yeah
This is where home used to be
Where we lived and loved
We were only here for awhile
Then we got drawn away, yeah, yeah
But this is where home used to be
And I pray that it?ll see a better day
We didn't worry back then
We never had a spare dime
This is where home used to be
In a different time
I know it?s hard to believe
So much has turned to dust, yeah, yeah
But this is where home used to be
And it was good to us, more than good to us
I had to see for myself